April 2008

Moss and Blackberry Stitch Hat

A 1970s hat using blackberry stitch, with a moss stitch brim. George did not think this was very "manly", but I leave that artistic decision to you, [George has also had experience of "life on the ocean wave" and says that as long as it's warm it will be welcome].

Instructions

With No. 6 (5mm) circular needle cast on 89 stitches, and work in rounds
of k1, p1, moss stitch for 3 inches. Increase 7sts evenly across the last
row. [96 sts]

Change to No. 4 (6mm) circular needle and work pattern as follows:

[Editor's note: this
pattern (blackberry stitch) is worked over groups of 4 sts, and the hat
is knitted up from the wrong side throughout.]

1st round: (wrong side) Knit.2nd round:*
P3tog; (k1,p1,k1) into the next st. Repeat from *
to end of round.3rd round: as first4th round:*
(k1,p1,k1) into the next st; p3tog. Repeat from *
to end of round.

These 4 rows form the pattern. Continue in pattern until work measures
8½ inches from the beginning, ending with round 4.

Shape Top as follows, keeping continuity of the pattern:

Next round: K1 *k2,
k2tog. Repeat from * to last st., k1. [72
sts]
Work 3 pattern rounds 2, 3 and 4.[Editor's note: You
can't keep the pattern bobbles in line with the previous work during the
decreasings; just make the bobbles evenly across the rounds as before.]

Next round:*K2tog,
k1. Repeat from * to end of round. [48 sts]
Work 3 pattern rounds. Next round:*K2tog.
Repeat from * to end of round. [24 sts]
Work 3 pattern rounds. Next round:*K2tog.
Repeat from * to end of round. [12 sts]
Work 1 round.

Break yarn, thread through remaining sts; draw up and fasten off securely.

Making up: Sew in all ends.

Changing the hat size, or substituting the wool.

You may want to alter the size (circumference) of your hat, or compensate
for a different gauge.

Simply work out how many sts you need to cast on according to your own
gauge eg divide the number of sts by 18 and multiply by the number of
sts you knit to 4 inches.
To work in moss stitch, you need to use an odd number of sts and work
k1,p1 on every round.

Do the same calculation when increasing for the blackberry stitch, taking
note that your number of sts needs to be divisible by 4.

Example:
I have a gauge of 18 sts to 4 inches on no UK 6 (5mm) needles.
You have a gauge of, say, 15 sts to 4 inches (that is: your wool is thicker
than mine).

Cast on 89 sts becomes 89/18*15 = 74, and you cast on 75, as it needs
to be an odd number.

Increase evenly to 96 sts becomes 96/18*15 = 80.
For this hat, you need the number of stitches picked up to be divisible
by 4, and 80 is exactly divisible by 4 so you are OK.
If not add or subtract a couple of sts until you get a number divisible
by 4.

Tension

Approx. 9st to 2 inches on No 6 needles.

Size matters

This hat worked out to about 22 inches head circumference. My estimate
is that "to fit an average sized head" means 22/23 inches for
a man's size and 20-22 inches for a woman's size.
See "altering the size" below.

A word on the wool.

Original pattern called for Patons Husky Chunky, which was, I think a
pure wool chunky, somewhat bulkier than the one I used.
It knitted to a tension of 7.5sts and 10 rows to 2 inches.
However, the implied hat size was very large, so I have not altered the original pattern sts according to my gauge, but have allowed the hat to knit up slightly smaller than the original.

Disclaimer(well...almost)

In transposing any pattern it is always a risk that errors will be introduced,
in spite of dedicated proof reading.
If you have any problems with this pattern, please
and I will try and assist.